FaultScore

2012 Toyota Highlander airbag problems

11 of the 230 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Highlander are about the airbag system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 31,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 10 90.9%
Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette 1 9.1%

Airbags across every Toyota Highlander year

2001 10 3.5%
2002 13 4.5%
2006 12 4.2%
2008 58 20.1%
2010 14 4.8%
2012 11 3.8%
2013 18 6.2%
2016 10 3.5%
2018 19 6.6%
2019 15 5.2%
2020 32 11.1%
2021 42 14.5%
2022 23 8.0%
2023 12 4.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Austin, TX

AIR BAGS

The front passenger side airbag light has been going off and on for a few months when someone is sitting in the seat now and now the sea is showing up

NHTSA complaint #11461916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensboro, GA

AIR BAGS

Major issue with Airbags July 2021. A warning appeared shortly after Passenger Sensor malfunction, that stated “Check SRS Airbag System. Have your vehicle checked by dealer immediately.” Dealer did Diagnostic. Toyota Dealer has tried to fix airbags three times in three weeks but it fails within a day or so and warning comes back on. Toyota has issued a recall for 2012 Highlanders for seats and front airbag that describes the issue this vehicle has however Toyota Dealer said our Vin is not included. The recall is under Campaign no. 13V014000 Report Date Jan 16 2013 Component Seats.

NHTSA complaint #11428253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashburn, VA Crash 5 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE FULLY DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER AND ON

NHTSA complaint #11203472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,400 miles Odenton, MD

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY TOAD. THE DISPLAY ALSO NOTIFIED ME AND READ, PLEASE TAKE THIS TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE HORN ON THE CAR ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE NO HORN AND A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. ARE THEY CONNECTED?

NHTSA complaint #11132806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,400 miles Odenton, MD

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY TOAD. THE DISPLAY ALSO NOTIFIED ME AND READ, PLEASE TAKE THIS TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE HORN ON THE CAR ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE NO HORN AND A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. ARE THEY CONNECTED?

NHTSA complaint #11132806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles SAN Jose, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CABINET IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA complaint #10954933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Ypsilanti, MI Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST DUE TO THE ROAD BEING WET. THE VEHCILE BEGAN TO SPIN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LAND OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT-END AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES AND BOTH PASSENGERS THAT WERE SEATED IN THE REAR RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE ABDOMIN. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA complaint #10929523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Fairview Heights, IL

AIR BAGS

RE: OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, SRS, ZERO POINT CALIBRATION SAFETY ISSUE. OWNERS WILL BE RELUCTANT TO SPEND $130+ AT THE DEALER FOR CALIBRATION. LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DO THE CALIBRATION. MUST BE A DEALER. I SPENT THE MONEY. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS 49000 MILES ON IT. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS INFREQUENTLY USED. THE WARNING LIGHTS AND DISPLAY WENT OFF JUST AFTER SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS SEAT SENSOR SYSTEM. LOTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ONLINE ABOUT THE NEED TO RE-CALIBRATE.

NHTSA complaint #10822127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Clinton, MA Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA complaint #10670407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Webster, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA complaint #10664274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,600 miles Humble, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

DRIVERS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. FRONT END CRUSHED, PROBABLY $20,000 DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALTHOUGH TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS TOTALED. WIFE WAS DRIVING AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF SEAT BELT HAD FAILED ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #10454532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Toyota Highlander problems

← Full 2012 Toyota Highlander report